Facts are and must be the coin of the realm in a democracy. Unfortunately, for citizens in the United States and throughout the world, distinguishing between fact and fictionalways a formidable challengeis now more difficult than ever, as a constant stream of questionable information pours into media outlets.

In The Future of Truth, Charles Lewis reminds us of the history of public dishonesty in the United States, from President Lyndon B. Johnsons cover-up of the real motives behind the Vietnam War, to George W. Bushs public rationales for military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, and how courageous investigative journalists stood up to power to bring truth to light. He then explores the implications for today: what are the root causes and consequences of this kind of mass deception?

Lewis argues forcefully that while data points and factoids abound, it is much harder to get to the whole truth of complex issues in time for that truth to guide citizens, voters, and decision-makers.

Produktbeschreibungen

Pressestimmen

At a time when truth is under siege, acclaimed investigative reporter Charles Lewis has given us a gripping insider's guide to a new journalistic ecosystem which is exposing lies, greed, and abuses of power across the globe. For citizens everywhere who care about truth-telling and holding those in power accountable.”Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and publisher of The Nation

Though people in Washington lie all the time, the word lie' is very rarely used. In 935 Lies, veteran investigative journalist Chuck Lewis reminds us, in vivid detail, of the many times government leaders and corporations have lied to us and sought to muscle the news business to keep it from exposing the truth. Don't read it and weep ... read it and get angry!”Ray Suarez, Host, Inside Story, Al Jazeera America

Charles Lewis probably did more than anyone else to launch institutional nonprofit journalism in America. So it is worth paying attention to what he has to say His reflections, especially on network television, point up the inherent limits of our largest legacy news organizations and embody the hope that new entrants will fill the gaps in newsgathering and, thereby, enlarge the public's capacity for democratic governance.”the Wall Street Journal

935 LIES provides a powerful survey of the quest for truth amid an explosion of mis-information and misinterpretations in everything from news reporting by traditional TV media to paid lobbyists, advocates, the Internet, and more. The truth becomes even more confusing and impossible under such an onslaught, and 935 Lies explores the many ways truth is manipulated by business and political interests alike. Any college-level reader concerned with the evolving world of disinformation will find this a powerful revealing study.” Midwest Book Review

Werbetext

An examination of the consequences of decades of government and corporate deception from a renowned investigative journalist, Washington insider, and founder of the centre for Public Integrity.
-- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine andere Ausgabe: Gebundene Ausgabe.

From time immemorial governments have lied to cover up their tracks. Over the course of the years the only thing that has changed is that they have greatly improved their methods and techniques of dissembling. At the present time those in power have become more skilled than ever at hiding the truth from the American people.

In 2004 public opinion polls disclosed that more than half of all Americans believed that weapons of mass destruction had been used in Iraq. Numerous widely publicized international reports had shown, beyond doubt, that no such weapons existed. "What had the U.S. Government officials said to cause most Americans and their elected representatives to completely ignore facts, logic and reason in the rush to war? The author of this book, Charles Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity, began to investigate these questions and ultimately issued a report that "Two years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, President George W. Bush and seven of his administration's top officials made at least 935 false statements about the national security threat posed by Iraq. The carefully orchestrated campaign of untruths about Iraq's alleged threat to U.S. national security from its WMDs or links to al Qeada (also specious) galvanized public opinion and led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."

With a few notable exceptions the Main Stream Media (MSM) "overwhelmingly failed to investigate or challenge the Administration's failed case for war, although some major news organizations later grudgingly acknowledged that their coverage was insufficiently critical of government pronouncements."

Mr.Lewis tells us that "investigating this tale of dishonesty by those in power and acquiescence on the part of those charged with reporting the truth has been a disheartening experience . . . Even more sobering, however, is the fact that that the Iraq War deception, with its 935 shameful, public lies, is simply the latest and most egregious story of truth betrayed . . . in the past five decades."

This book is a modern history of government and corporate lying and what can be done about it. I highly recommend it.

This book has much to impart. The review of the treachery surrounding Watergate and the Vietnam War was illuminating and a timely reminder political evil is not new to America. Then, disjointedly, the book goes on to cover the author's career in the context of a tepid news journalism industry. Additionally, the book covers good journalistic work by various non-profit and publicly support organizations that are crucial but not household names.

The overall purpose of this book is unclear. Plus, it's scope is very specific to the author's era and direct experience. "935 Lies" is completely misleading. Further, the discussion of governmental dishonesty is anecdotal, not systematic or adherent to an underlying theme about government and society.

Naturally, this book is well written and fun to read. I have knowledge and insight that I didn't have before. And, knowing that there journalists like this author still "out there" is very heartening.

Charles Lewis makes a strong argument that our constitutional future is chanllenged by the demise of journalism as we knew it. He advocates for the alternative ways journalism is reforming, such as the non-profit media, and puts out red flags next to the dangers that are developing as big money buys candidates for office and the truth is ignored or twisted to appear as false and false as true.

Lewis is a distinguished reformer leading over time several media education and althernative venues after working with Mike Wallace and 60 Minutes for several years. His perspective as set forth in this book is essential for folks wanting to see how we can find a democracy that is not frozen in grid lock and reflective of the majority of the population, not just the few in the class characterized as the one per cent.

The title does not do the book justice, making it seem as though we were going to go through all of them. Basically it is a re-hash of many of the things I have read regarding our political system and ways we have been deceived, both by politicians and also our media. Not too much new here but some details I had not read before. His praise of alternative media is spot on but unfortunately it is so polarized we tend to read only what re-enforces our world view. It was an easy read and on Kindle it was complete at 57% because there was a whole section on the Iraq war lies, which I did not read as it was a review of things I've read before. So it was a fairly easy read and did not take long to complete. All in all, a good review of the history of the lies we have been told, the biggest of course being the one that led into the war in Iraq.

As one who lived through and participated in the Viet-Nam era of our government I have read a lot about what happened and assumed that this book had new revelations about that era as well as the administrations that followed. Unfortunately the majority of the 935 lies are only about the Viet-Nam era, so it's old news. Lewis offers some insight and opinion that is fresh but not sufficient. Of course is you are one of those Americans who asks: "Who is JFK?" this book might be enlightening, for us older folks it is a rehash of the same old stuff.